[Gypsy Salvatore]

There's some eccentric and endearing about Professor Gypsy Salvatore. She doesn't spend a lot of time in the company of other Professors. Instead she spends it as a wallflower, observing and waiting. But she is no innocent wallflower. She's more like an invasive plant who will come into one's life unexpectedly and seemingly take over until they get their gardens in order then she can be eradicated. But she comes into those lives knowing she will be eradicated with good reason. Her time is there to help, nourish and send them off to more beautiful things. School is back in session and Gypsy is ready to pick up where she left off. This results in the eccentric Divination Professor handing out her usual, mysterious cards to those she has grown acquainted with - those whom secrets she has kept and nurtured to allow them the strength and confidence to find what they are seeking. The Hanged Man card is in rotation that afternoon with instructions on when her usual back to school get together of all her favourite students (and then some) will gather. Gypsy can't wait and the tea is already brewing!

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

Professor Salvatore was one of Rhian's favorite professors hands down; possibly even her top favorite. True, Divination wasn't her strong suit but she wasn't a lost cause with it and even if she was the professor was still a wonderful person to be around. Even if she wasn't entirely aware of it, the professor was one of the precious few people in the school Rhiannon really trusted. So when she got the Hanged Man card with instructions on when to meet she was got excited. Not that there was a great deal of evidence of that excitement. Playing her emotions close to the chest she just seemed to be in a somewhat better mood than usual.

Upon arriving at the top of the Divination Tower, Rhian entered the classroom with a smile already on her face. "Hello, Professor," she said, seeming to relax slightly just by being there, the scent of tea steeping a familiar one. "How was your summer?" Her own had be uneventful but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing these days.

Gypsy Salvatore

[Gypsy Salvatore]

The first student to arrive to her little shindig is her darling Rhiannon. Of course, Gypsy loves all of her special students equally but some are more dear to her. Some remind her more of her and her dear Beatrice than others. Rhiannon reminds her a lot of Beatrice and thus she has a soft spot for the girl. Quiet, reserve. One who does not wish to make waves. It's Gypsy's fault Bea is no longer with them and doesn't get to share in the joy of what Gypsy is doing for their community. "Queenie, come on in dear!" For the name Rhiannon refers to the Welsh word for "great queen" or "goddess" and Gypsy likes to bestow upon her precious students that little bit of endearment they might not get elsewhere. She sets the low table, which is surrounded by pillows, with a piping hot tea pot and places the little tea cups around at each place. The students she had invited were all accounted for with a pillow to sit upon. "It was quiet. Just the way I enjoy my personal time. Now, are you ready to see what this year has in store for us? I'm anxious to get started and cannot wait for all my turtle doves to arrive." She means her students, of course. Rhiannon Heathcote

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

Rhiannon smiled at the nickname Professor Salvatore had given her way back when she first took her class. It was sweet, she thought, and always gave her a warm feeling even if it might be a little silly. She was reserved enough that she didn’t really have any other nicknames aside from shortened versions of her name and while that didn’t bother her it made “Queenie” all the more endearing to her.

“I’m surprised I made it here first,” Rhian admitted as she gracefully folded herself onto one of the pillows set around the table. As the cups were put around the table she admired the one set before her. It was a lovely piece of china but she expected nothing less from the professor; her tea spreads were always beautiful.

Her smile was relaxed in a way it rarely was as she listened to Professor Salvatore. “Mine too,” she agreed. “Father made sure I didn’t get rusty with my classwork over break so it was a mite bit structured but there was time to just relax and enjoy the weather with a good book. Mother actually had me practicing tea leaves so hopefully I’ve improved a little since last year,” she added brightly. “I hope there are good portents with today’s leaves.”

Gypsy Salvatore

[Gypsy Salvatore]

Gypsy clicks her tongue. She does not want to feel displaced by the fact that some of her charges – yes, she has dubbed them that as well – have found what they were looking for and thus might not desire to spend time in her little oasis anymore. She keeps this all to herself and responds. “You are punctual. The others likely let summer vacation delude their common sense. Freedom can do that to a person.” She chuckles at her own comment. It’s a nice way to express irresponsibility. “I suspect some others will be along any minute.” “He’s a smart man to insist you don’t. One can never let their skills get rusty, especially in times like these.” She does not just mean the fact that those who gather with her are of a special sort of people the world does not yet accept but because of forces brewing in the darkness that threaten to crush their worlds for having different opinions than them. “We all must be prepared BUT that is not why we are here together, oh no! We are here for frivolous fun. Did you ensure you had some of that this summer? Any good stories to tell me?” Rhiannon Heathcote

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

Running a finger gently back and forth on the front of the rim of the tea saucer before her, Rhian half shrugged. She wasn’t always so punctual but visiting Professor Salvatore made her want to be. She was a bit embarrassed to give voice to that feeling though. She thought it might sound like she was trying to toady favor with her when that was the farthest from the truth. Instead she just sort of bobbed her head slightly in acknowledgement. “Freedom can change one's perspectives, I suppose,” she agreed. “But missing out on back to classes tea with you seems like a poor choice of action, though,” she added a bit quietly. Was that too much? She hoped not.

Again, she nodded, now smiling a bit wryly. “You’re right, of course, ” Rhiannon admitted. “Though I wasn’t always too thrilled at the time.” While she knew the importance of staying sharp, especially in these darkening days, she was still just a teenage girl who wanted to read in a tree all summer. She couldn’t help an almost-grin at the professor’s questions. “I did manage to get some leisure reading in and it was great to reconnect with some of my neighborhood acquaintances.” She didn’t have any super close friends at home anymore but they were all still friendly with one another and there were no hard feelings. People were bound to grow apart when scattered to various schools, some of which, like Hogwarts, were boarding schools. Only theirs were mundane. They all still made time to hang out at least which meant the world to Rhian.

Gypsy Salvatore

[Vanitas Burke]

V liked Professor Salvatore, they admired her endless confidence and how she was inexcusably herself. She was unlike the witches that roamed Knockturn. It was nice seeing femininity wasn’t always linked with poisoning people. Even if Vanitas didn’t believe in divination (those who knew them would beg to differ), this was a nice opportunity to be in a different environment. Besides, tea was always nice!

When they arrived, V noticed another student was already there. A Slytherin girl that was a year above them. “Oh, good day, Ms. Salvatore, Ms. Heathcote. I hope I am not interrupting anything,” they quickly apologized as they corrected their glasses. “Have you started yet?” At Hogwarts they wanted to be as polite as possible to make up for their Knockturn background.
Gypsy Salvatore, Rhiannon Heathcote,

[Paris Aurinko]

Tea leaves and reading. Sounded like a nice way to spend an afternoon really. Paris was still new to Hogwarts, and to say he was finding his feet was putting it, well, mildly. Still, a break was a break, and he knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. There are three other people, a professor, a Ravenclaw, and a Slytherin. Paris nods mildly to them before finding himself a spot in the back of the room. As he was running late (he had over slept again) he had completely missed what they were supposed to be doing. So, not wanting to seem out of place, his first thought was to blend in. 

Well, blending in involved  moving to one of the tables in the back, and examining the little baggies of tea left everywhere. They were clucking like hens and growing quickly bored he started messing with them, unable to hear of just how loudly they would rattle, thinking he was doing a very good job of this whole keeping his head down lark. 

[Gypsy Salvatore]

Gypsy chuckles Rhiannon’s agreement. Freedom is as fickle as it is glorious. Well deserved but allows people to forget their responsibilities and those are just as important as having fun. This is something students don’t learn until later in life. Rhiannon has it figured out already. Smart girl. She always admired that in her. “Naturally, darling,” she beams in agreement. It’s nice to see they are joined by a few others. Gypsy welcomes Vanitas warmly. “Now, V, you know, you are never an interruption.” Gypsy reminds them. Vanitas is a special type of student, not so different from the others but different nonetheless. “You are right on time, hurry, hurry, don’t darken doorways with your shadow, come in and select whatever cup moves you.” Gypsy already has her cup. Today she is feeling most like a peony. “Oh! Excellent!” She spots the newcomer. The young lad the Ministry brought in after finding him hiding away in a corner of London and requiring some education. “Vanitas, Rhiannon, have you met Paris?” She motions with her hands for Paris to come closer to the group, after all, she knows of his predicament, and decides it is best to share it with the others. “Be sure you are facing him when you speak, he is deaf, or if you have something to write, it will help communicate with him.” She adds, and brings out a quill and parchment that writes a note for Paris to read. It says: We will be reading each other’s tea leaves to see what this year may have in store for us. Make yourself comfortable. Rhiannon Heathcote Vanitas Burke , Paris Aurinko ,

[Rhiannon Heathcote]

Rhian looked over as Vanitas entered and offered a somewhat shy smile. She didn’t know them well but shook her head at the use of her surname. “Please, just Rhiannon is fine,” she said, tracing a finger down the deep blue handle of the teacup she had selected that day. It was odd to be called “Ms. Heathcote” by a peer to her mind. She wasn’t typically a formal sort of person anyway.

Then a new face crossed the threshold. She didn’t recognize this new person but gave them another of her slightly shy smiles as she returned the nod politely. It was strange that they went to the back of the room when there was still room at the table she and the professor were at but maybe they were shy, she figured.

That was when Professor Salvatore made the introductions and Rhiannon’s mouth formed a small o for a moment. Then she turned to face Paris and, mindful of her diction so her lips would hopefully be easier to read she said, “It’s lovely to meet you, Paris.” Seeing that the professor wrote him a note she pulled the Muggle notebook and pencil out of an inner pocket she’d added to her robes in case that made it easier for her to be understood during this little event.

Gypsy Salvatore, Vanitas Burke, Paris Aurinko

[Vanitas Burke]

Vanitas sat down and instinctively selected a cup with a purple flower motif on it, their favorite colour. “I must say Professor, I absolutely love what you did with your hair today. If you didn’t have a session planned I’d be all ears to listen to your hair styling secrets.” That opinion would probably have been better off as a secret. Why should a guy be interested in such things? Especially as their own hair was kept simple and short, as their parents wanted from them. Well it was as long as they were in control of the morphs. V couldn’t let their guard down, even if it were with Professor Salvatore whom they absolutely idolized.

Had they been overdoing the politeness? It was so hard balancing the Knockturn energy out that maybe they were reaching too far on the opposite end. Sometimes they were certain the head of house just selected them to mess around. “Rhiannon… I’ll remember that.” It was a beautiful name, one they would love to find in novels.

When the new kid joined, V tried to keep face but their body morphing gave their thoughts away. Their eyes turned sharp green and their hair morphed to a silvery straight bob. Seriously out of everyone he was joining?

Then the Professor revealed that the kid, called Paris apparently, was deaf. Which actually explained a lot and made them feel quite bad for what happened in Knockturn. Perhaps for once their ever changing body did something in their favor because at least he won’t be able to recognize them. “I don’t think we have. Passing notes will be a challenge from that distance, some sit with us,” they offered, which they didn’t think they ever would.

Gypsy Salvatore,Rhiannon Heathcote,Paris Aurinko,

[Paris Aurinko]

Sitting in the back, Paris was intent on keeping his head down and hoping a few more faces would pile in before he was noticed. Instead, no sooner had he pulled his divination book from his bag, only to look up and see the whole class looking at him. Paris may have got his things and walked out of the place there and then except that the teacher started to talk to him directly. The same professor who had helped him with that smelly hat debacle and who seemed not to get annoyed at him when he didn’t hear her. It had earned Gypsy some brownie points in Paris’s books.

Enough that he didn’t immediately storm out.

Still, it takes him another minute before he can will himself to make his way over to their table where Gypsy has prepared a note for him. He couldn’t read it from his original hiding place, and so he settled himself at the edge of the group feeling horribly out of place. Like a stranger among old friends. Rhiannon’s efforts to be understood made him smile a little. Most people just talked around him, or about him. It was nice to be addressed directly, and as long as people weren’t going too quickly, he could keep up pretty well.

After a moment he took out an empty notebook and a quill. The quill stood upright on the page, and when his hands moved it began to scratch words into the page – the same magic adapted for dictation used to translate a different language ”Nice to meet you too.” That was probably a lie. Time would tell. He took the blandest of the cups he could see – Paris did not embody the Hufflepuff need to be seen.

[Gypsy Salvatore]

Gypsy waves her hand dismissively at Vanitas’s compliment. “Dear, you should know by now it’s the wild ways of however it feels like sitting when I rouse from bed each morning.” She believes in there being a reason for everything, including how one’s hair falls to their shoulders. Hers is a messy wisp today, quite like her, whimsical and easy going. “There is no need to fret with such things.” Gypsy waves the negative tensity in the air away with a sparkle of magic from the tip of her wand. Much like how she has crystals set out and sage to burn whenever something particularly messy happens in her classroom. She likes a calm, positive atmosphere where all her students feel welcome. When she is finished, she takes note that her two guests have welcomed the third into their midsts and smiles at them all. “How lovely. How lovely. Now, do we know if anyone else is coming? I had hoped to see Miss. Travers at least and thought one of you might twist her arm into coming as well but we ought not to delay. Drink up my pets!” She picks up her own tea and sips. Rhiannon Heathcote Vanitas Burke , Paris Aurinko ,

[Regulus A Black]

A Hanged Man card had made its way into Regulus's hand and he was not sure what it meant. The instructions on the back were to meet, in the Divination classroom. It was the one class he was not taking because his mother had classed it as nonsense and not worth the time. He had decided not to argue with her over it as she had seemed right on the cusp of rage if he did. It was likely because his brother had fought her at every step, but he didn't know for sure and was much less likely to stand up to their mother than Sirius.

The problem with the card was who he could trust to show it to. So in the end he decided not to tell anyone and go by himself to figure out what the card meant. Years of sneaking about unseen under his belt made it easy to get out of the Slytherin dorms and through the castle without being spotted. That all stopped the moment he came into the Divination classroom. His eyes moved from person to person uncertainly as he realized there were quite a few people here, and only one other Slytherin that he could see. Nervously he stepped to the side to be out of the doorway as he tried to figure out what sort of gathering this was.

[Gavyn Howell]

Gavyn was late. He had gotten caught up in homework and had nearly forgotten about the Hanged Man card he'd gotten. Professor Salvatore's get-together was a huge part of why being at Hogwarts was amazing, missing it was simply not in the cards. Pun not intended. So when he arrived at the Divination classroom he had all of his class materials where others might not. The bag, his robes and a couple of books that hadn't fit into the bag were deposited near the door so he could collect them later.

"Excuse me." The shorter dark-haired student moved aside and he was startled when he got a good look at the other's face. Regulus Black, brother to Sirius Black who everyone ever knew. Had he been invited? Was he here accidentally? Nervously he skirted past him and to the others with a smile, taking in who was here and who wasn't as he went to get some tea first. A blue flowery teacup is in his hands as he joins them all finally. "Hello everyone, sorry I'm late. I got caught up and nearly forgot. Thank you for the tea Professor, it's perfect as always."

Gypsy Salvatore, Rhiannon Heathcote, Vanitas Burke, Paris Aurinko